Abstract: Systems and methods for aggregating user data and targeting content to users are described. User data is collected through quizzes and users are associated with a particular fictional or nonfictional character profile based on the user-submitted information. The user data associated with each character profile is aggregated to identify and recommend content for the user, such as television shows, news feed, web pages, promotions, advertisements, and the like. The invention can be used in connection with fan sites or other topic-specific sites that are associated with the character of the character profile.

Abstract: A plurality of hazard alarm devices are in spatially diverse locations and coupled together with an input-output bus. An interconnect protocol enables non-originating alarm devices to synchronize their audible alert tone pulses with audible alert tone pulses from an originating alarm device in a local hazard alarm condition. Hence, all audible alert tone pulses start sounding substantially together with allowances for signal contention and arbitration between the spatially diverse alarm devices.

Abstract: When presenting information to a user via a display, an animated timeline (18) is provided on which a user selects a tick mark (74, 92) representing a time on the timeline (18), to view data collected at that time. A time window (72) of a predetermined width (e.g., an hour) is centered on the selected tick mark (74, 92), and the timeline (18) is then animated as it shifts the selected tick mark (74, 92) to the center of the timeline (18). Data (e.g., images, measured parameters, etc.) corresponding to the time window is identified (e.g., via timestamp information) and presented to the user on a display along with the timeline (18).

Abstract: A ballistic resistant panel including a strike face portion and a backing portion. The strike face portion includes a plurality of interleaved layers of non-fibrous ultra high molecular weight polyethylene tape. The backing portion includes a plurality of interleaved layers of cross-plied fibers of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene. The entire stack of interleaved layers is compressed at high temperature and pressure to form a ballistic resistant panel having a strike face on one side. It has been found that ballistic resistance increases as the weight ratio of the strike face portion with respect to the backing portion decreases. A composite panel having a strike face Tensylon tape with at most 40% of the total weight of the panel exhibits improved ballistic resistance properties as compared to a monolithic structure of strictly interleaved layers of cross-plied high modulus fibers.

Abstract: A ballistic-resistant molded article having a sandwich-type structure including two outer portions of a first high modulus material surrounding an inner portion of a second high modulus material. The outer portions are comprised of a plurality of interleaved layers of adhesive coated cross-plied non-fibrous ultra high molecular weight polyethylene tape. The inner portion is comprised of a plurality of interleaved layers of high modulus cross-plied fibers embedded in resin. The stack of interleaved layers is compressed at high temperature and pressure to form a hybrid sandwich ballistic-resistant molded article that includes a mix of high modulus materials. It has been found that ballistic resistance is higher for the hybrid structure than for a monolithic structure of comparable areal density.

Abstract: Systems and methods for aggregating user data and targeting content to users are described. User data is collected through quizzes and users are associated with a particular fictional or nonfictional character profile based on the user-submitted information. The user data associated with each character profile is aggregated to identify and recommend content for the user, such as television shows, news feed, web pages, promotions, advertisements, and the like. The invention can be used in connection with fan sites or other topic-specific sites that are associated with the character of the character profile.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing an online interactive digital media timeline are described. Users can access a library of dated content that includes television episodes, music videos, music clips, news information, movies and the like. Users are able to generate a personalized scrapbook or timeline by adding content from the library to their scrapbook or timeline. A representation of the selected content may be displayed in the scrapbook or time machine and linked to the actual content. Users can search the metadata of the content to identify content to add or the user may be presented with default content that is the most influential, top selling, and/or most discussed content. Users can also identify content to add to their scrapbook or timeline by searching content by year.

Abstract: The present invention is an ASIC-controlled alarm unit. The ASIC circuit performs all the necessary control functions to provide audible and visual signaling when used with external horn and strobe circuits.

Abstract: Load mounting systems for vehicles and methods of securing loads are provided. A load mounting system for a vehicle generally includes a support assembly configured for supporting a load, wherein the support assembly has a first end and a second end, the first end being mountable to a frame of a vehicle at one or more support assembly mounting locations along the frame. The system further includes at least one retaining device configured for securing the load on the support assembly, the at least one retaining device being coupleable to the first and second ends of the support assembly, wherein the at least one retaining device is coupleable to the first end of the support assembly at a different location than the support assembly mounting locations along the frame.

Abstract: The present invention is an ASIC-controlled alarm unit. The ASIC circuit performs all the necessary control functions to provide audible and visual signaling when used with external horn and strobe circuits.

Abstract: The present invention concerns methods and compositions for synthesizing a polypeptide using kinetically controlled reactions involving fragments of the polypeptide for a fully convergent process. In more specific embodiments, a ligation involves reacting a first peptide having a protected cysteyl group at its N-terminal and a phenylthioester at its C-terminal with a second peptide having a cysteine residue at its N-termini and a thioester at its C-termini to form a ligation product. Subsequent reactions may involve deprotecting the cysteyl group of the resulting ligation product and/or converting the thioester into a thiophenylester.

Abstract: A method of producing propagation-defective Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV) in a cell culture is provided. The method involves introducing a plasmid vector encoding an optimized VSV G gene into a cell; expressing VSV G protein from the optimized VSV G gene; and introducing a propagation-defective VSV into the cell expressing the VSV G protein encoded by the optimized VSV G gene. The method further includes growing the cells in culture; and recovering the propagation-defective VSV from the culture.

Abstract: A method of producing propagation-defective Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV) is provided. The method involves providing a cell that includes an optimized VSV G gene, wherein expression of VSV G protein from the optimized VSV G gene is inducible; and inducing the cell to express VSV G protein from the optimized VSV G gene. The method also involves infecting the induced cell with an attenuated VSV; growing the infected cells in culture; and recovering attenuated VSV from the culture.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for recombinantly producing, via rescue of mumps virus, a nonsegmented, negative-sense, single-stranded RNA virus, and immunogenic compositions formed therefrom. Additional embodiments relate to methods of producing the mumps virus as an attenuated and/or infectious virus. The recombinant viruses are prepared from cDNA clones, and, accordingly, viruses having defined changes, including nucleotide/polynucleotide deletions, insertions, substitutions and re-arrangements, in the place of the genome are obtained.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the invention involves a framework for using virtualization technology to efficiently support a domain-specific run-time environment. In at least one embodiment, a framework is utilized to take advantage of virtualization technology (VT) to partition performance critical and non-performance critical tasks of the same domain-specific application. An embodiment of the invention utilizes a general-purpose operating system to execute non-performance critical aspects of a domain, and uses a privileged VT-root mode to execute performance critical aspects of the domain. Another embodiment uses one or more guest VMs to execute the performance critical aspects of the domain-specific run-time environment. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Techniques for detecting defects on semiconductor wafers are described. The techniques involve a parallel processing system wherein a data distribution system contains data distribution nodes that are interconnected by multiple data transfer paths. This configuration allows data collected by any of the detectors to be routed to any one of a plurality of processing nodes. This in turn allows a variety of defect analysis algorithms to be implemented.

Abstract: The present invention concerns methods and compositions for synthesizing a polypeptide using kinetically controlled reactions involving fragments of the polypeptide for a fully convergent process. In more specific embodiments, a ligation involves reacting a first peptide having a protected cysteyl group at its N-terminal and a phenylthioester at its C-terminal with a second peptide having a cysteine residue at its N-termini and a thioester at its C-termini to form a ligation product. Subsequent reactions may involve deprotecting the cysteyl group of the resulting ligation product and/or converting the thioester into a thiophenylester.